Manchester Schools Receives Funds To Supplement Teacher Salaries
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Maddie Jo Shultz-
NORTH MANCHESTER – Manchester Community Schools accepted over $8,000 in donations and directed money from a Teachers Retirement Fund government surplus to supplement teacher salaries for the next two years.
The school board recognized $8,306.70 in donations from local individuals and businesses, including $1,456.50 from Johnson Petroleum Inc. and $1,500 from Parkview Health for the spring Three Rivers Conference luncheon.
A TRF surplus resulted in a dollar reduction of $99,312.20, which MCS business manager Jeremy Markham recommended for a supplement to teachers’ salaries for the next two years. The board approved.
During Tuesday night’s school board meeting, Melissa Underwood and her son, Austin, a senior at Manchester Jr.-Sr. High School, praised the work-based programming offered at Manchester.
School officials reviewed bond funding with representatives from Bakertilly municipal advising and Ice Miller legal counsel. MCS is seeking funding for roof repair at MJSHS and a possible boiler replacement at MIS.
Superintendent Teresa Gremaux introduced a professional development agreement with Equitable Education Consulting. For $5,000 per year from a Title II grant, Gremaux said the consulting would be completely web-based and would be “a great resource for staff,” especially principals. The board approved the agreement.
Changes to board policy were introduced, including modifications to student withdrawal procedure, use of metal detectors based on reasonable suspicion only, and the reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect. These and other policy amendments were recommended to MCS by the Indiana School Boards Association.
Guidance counselors Lacey Wise and Jodi Metzger presented on Heartland and Pathway programs and procedure. Heartland is the career center where MJSHS students can gain work- or project-based learning experience, and Pathway is the process for graduation.
Graduation requirements include a diploma requirement, demonstration of employability skills and post-secondary preparation (such as the SAT or ACT test). Wise and Metzger also outlined how ninth-, 10th-, 11th- and 12th-graders are individually prepared for either college or career paths after graduation.
Gremaux thanked the community again for all donations and their support of MCS.
